Page 142 of Till The Sun Dies (Checkmate 2)

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Laine

A Little Help

“I’ve decided to go for it.”

Jess’ eyes narrow across the same table Ang and I ate at last night, but instead of flowers, candles, and wine, just like Ang predicted, the place is now filled with toast, coffee, and people in swimwear.

“Go for what?”

“I’m going to try and force his hand. I think he wants me.”

“Ya think?” Kane sits back and sips at a delicate mug of coffee. “You tickled his balls, didn’t you? Told you that would work. Never fails.”

“No, I didn’t tickle anything! But we had dinner last night, we had fun, we drank and watched movies. He helped zip me up.”

Jess flashes a dirty grin. “You sly girl. Girls don’t need help with zippers.”

I sit forward and match her grin. “No, we don’t, but he doesn’t know that. He helped me, and he helped with my necklace.”

“Pretty bauble, Twink. I noticed it, but forgot to say something.”

I reach to my chest and finger the beautiful crystal. “Thanks. He gave it to me the day we left home. He said it’s for healing and stuff.” I shrug. “Don’t know if it works, but I love it. I feel like I sleep better with it on.”Or maybe I sleep better because I’m sharing my bed with someone I trust.“This morning, I was showering, and when I came back out in my towel, his, umm… his…”

“Dick.”

I glare at the thug and his poking-out-pinky. “Yes. His dick. Thank you, Kane. It stood up because of me and my towel.”

“Well, duh. I’ve been telling you this for ages.”

“Jess… help me.”

She turns to him. “If you don’t stop interrupting her, you’re going to be banished from our table. Then you can sit with the weirdos at table eight. They’re still bending the fork prongs together because they wanna look badass. Are you real badass, Bishop, or are you pretend?”

“Blondie…”

“Shush it.”

His eyes narrow, but when he sits back and picks up a fork, I hold back my snicker and try not to feel bad for the badass that just got the sternest talking to he’s ever received from his girlfriend.

“We’re going to the beach today,” I continue. “I just want to sit in the shade, drink something I shouldn’t, and mellow the hell out. Maybe while I’m there, I’ll tan my legs or whatever to get his attention.”

“Works for me.” Jess slides her chair closer to Kane, because she can’t bear to hurt his feelings, and when Ang steps into the dining room in boardshorts and flip flops, Kane flashes a silly wink and pulls Jess into his lap.

I pick up my coffee and get busy not talking about Ang’s dick.

“Morning.” He drops a beaten-up novel onto the table in front of me so the cutlery rattles, then takes the final empty seat.

The edges of the paperback are worn and frayed, the corners curled back so far, I can read some of the inside. The spine so cracked, I smile at the love this book has known.

I pick it up and flip it over. “What’s this?”

“They got a second-hand book store just one block over. I found it when I ran past, and figured you might like one while you sit on the beach today. I think it’s about some chick who lives secluded on an island and trains dogs.”

“Sounds like the perfect life.”

He picks up my half empty coffee and drinks. “That’s what I figured. The author’s name on the front is written pretty big, and the spine is folded to shit, so that kinda implies it’s a good book by a good author. I thought you might like it.”

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